Depression decisions — 2023

All appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues.,An effective date of January 26, 2018, has been granted for a 50 percent disability evaluation for headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, was denied in previous rating decisions. New evidence has been received to reopen the claim, but further development is needed due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of any current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of VA examinations and requests for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to insufficient evidence of total social or occupational impairment. The Veteran maintains full-time employment despite his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date prior to October 18, 2015 for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is not warranted. The Veteran's claim was submitted on October 18, 2015 and a complete claim was filed in December 2015. An evaluation in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, specifically Persistent Depressive Disorder with Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, is granted a rating of 50 percent prior to March 27, 2015 and from March 27, 2015 to August 2, 2020.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, Panic Disorder, and Recurrent Depressive Disorder was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for these psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease. The claims for accrued benefits, service connection for colon cancer and liver cancer (secondary to colon cancer), and depression (secondary to colon cancer) are remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including addressing earlier effective dates and initial ratings.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and chronic adjustment disorder, are found to have had their onset during his active military service. Service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition is due to a personal assault during her active duty service.

For the period from March 27, 2019, the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are rated at 100 percent disabling.,Prior to March 27, 2019, the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder were rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's private treatment records and to schedule him for a DRO hearing. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in June 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as a secondary condition to bilateral lower extremity small fiber peripheral neuropathy. The issues of increased ratings for the small fiber peripheral neuropathy and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe is granted. The Board finds the evidence in at least approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's MDD had its onset during his period of active service and grants this claim. However, the issues regarding a disability rating for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and paraspinal muscular strain, service connection for a right foot disability, effective dates for temporary total evaluations, and noncompensable rating for lumbar scar are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. Claims for bilateral hearing loss and right eye disorder are remanded, as well as the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as well as his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and OSA. The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim to reopen the issue of service connection for OSA was granted based on new evidence.